>ping_

The ping command, is used to test connection between a local server/computer
to a remote UNIX server.
The ping command sends ICMP Echo Request packets to the remote server for accessing it.
Each packet echoed back (via an ICMP Echo Response packet) is written to the shell output.

ping [-flag] server

The main usages for the ping command are:

Test whether remote server if working.

Check the network connectivity from your local machine to a remote one.

Check for general network issues.

ping theshell.ch

The shell will output something like this:
64 bytes from 98.138.219.232: icmp_seq=0 ttl=49 time=144.781 ms for each packet
that returns (echoed back).
To stop the ping command press control + c.

Flags

-c: send limited number of packets with ping -c (nr of packets)
Example: ping -c 4 yahoo.com, the shell will display the first 4 packets returned,
and then stop.